Creston Valley Wildlife Center

The Kootenay river meanders through Creston valley from the US to Kootenay Lake up north. Most of the valley has been dyked and provides a huge fertile agricultural zone, but a large part of the valley also still has preserved vital ecological wetlands. 

We booked a guided canoe trip through the wetlands at the Wildlife Centre early in the morning before the heat hit us.  The later trips were cancelled for that same reason but we were still good to go.  With a group of 6 and a guide we peddled through the open lakes but we also made our ways through the invasive fields of wild rice that take over a lot of surface.   But our guide bluntly encouraged us to just keep hitting that paddle through the plants and push ourselves through. 

Lots of fun but after half an hour I started to sneeze and Kabouter asked in desperation whether I had more tissues on me to blow his nose and I realised that wild rice hits our grass pollen allergy quite badly.  Ugh by the time we were done we both had a set of red swollen itchy arms that drove us crazy.   Ouch!!! I had to bit my lips and not whine as I wished in order to not despair Kabouter more than he already did. 

They gave us some cooling creme at the centre, and we risked going for a short further walk on the dykes and boardwalks to the look-out.  Gorgeous spot to hang out. Due to the heat, we didn't spot any wildlife though besides a gardner snake and some turtles.  And then we rushed back to town straight to the pharmacist to get creme and antihistamine pills for both of us to calm our crazy rash.   (those did help us quickly so we were much better in the afternoon)